Rural Community Leaders ' Perceptions of Environmental Health Risks Improving Community Health

C ommunity-based research in environmental Qualitative description was used to explore how health is one of six research focus areas estab- rural commuiiity leaders frame, interpret, and lisl~ed by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (2001) in its 2002-2010 agenda for give meaning to issues public health environmental research, This mandate ac-fecting their constituents and communities. Six knowledges that local individuals create the context for rural community leaders discussed growth, vul- environmental health science and recognizes the impor-nerable families, and the action avoidance strat- tance of using multiple lines of inquiry to fully inform egies they use or see used in lieu of adopting health-promoting behaviors. Findings suggest intervention strategies should be economical, use common sense, be sensitive to regional identity, and use local case studies and "inside leadership." Occupational health nurses addressing the dispa-rate environmental health risks in rural commu-nities are encouraged to use agenda-neutral, sci-entifically based risk communication efforts and foster collaborative relationships among nurses, planners, industry, and other community lead-ers